What is the point of a law and the resulting punishments? I’d argue it’s a tool for teaching citizens lessons. Why teach them lessons? To modify their behavior in pursuit of a “more perfect union”—AKA a better society. Obviously, the Memphis, Tennessee police don’t agree with me.

Tennessee delivery driver’s car hijacked

Michelle Toney is a hardworking food delivery driver. One Sunday night she was working late to make an extra buck, while the rest of us sat on our behinds, ordering junk food from our phones.

The app pinged her to grab an order from a restaurant in Hickory Hill. Around 8 PM, Toney pulled up to the front of the restaurant. Her phone said the order was ready, so she left the car running. She ran in, grabbed the food, and found a surprise waiting in the parking lot.

A white Honda Accord idled behind Toney’s car, blocking her in. A masked man wearing all black got out of the Honda and jumped into Toney’s car.

Toney admitted, “I got scared because I don’t know; I don’t know if he has a weapon, but I was just like, ‘Please, please, like, please just leave my car alone.’”

Spoiler alert: The thieves didn’t leave Toney’s car alone. They peeled out of the parking lot in both vehicles while she cried, “Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.”

Like a good citizen, Toney immediately called the Memphis Police. Then her night went from bad to worse.

The Memphis police hit Toney with a citation

The police arrive and there’s Toney, sitting on the curb, her head in her hands, her delivery order getting cold, and her job in jeopardy. She was honest with the officers, explaining exactly what had happened. She owned up to the mistakes she’d made. What was her reward? A citation.

The officers cited Tennessee law: “No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key, and effectively setting the brake.”

I can see why this law makes sense. Cars left running can be dangerous. They can invite theft. And I bet now Toney can see that too. So is it important to fine her? To, you know, teach her a lesson? I’d think she’s already learned her lesson. But again, the Memphis police never asked me.

The officers hit Toney with a citation.

That’s a side of humiliation with the bad luck she never ordered.

Tennessee delivery driver finally catches a break

Later that night, Toney finally got some mercy. But it definitely didn’t come from the police.

“I literally found out, maybe it wasn’t long, maybe like within the next 30 minutes, that my car was down basically right down the street and abandoned in the parking lot.”

Were the thieves nicer to Toney than the cops? Maybe. But the long and short of it is her car had some damage and a flat tire, so they probably didn’t abandon it just because she begged them to leave her alone.

What about Michelle Toney? Did she learn her lesson? She claims she did. “It was a humbling experience because you always think it’ll never happen to you.” Citation or not, I doubt she ever leaves her car idling and unlocked again.